Eddie Howe: 'Bournemouth the team to beat'

Eddie Howe has claimed that his in-form Bournemouth side are now the Championship's prized scalp.

The Cherries beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 on Tuesday to climb to the top of the table with a sixth straight league victory.

They face second-placed Middlesbrough this weekend, and Howe admits that their winning run has put a target on Bournemouth's back.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "To win back-to-back games in this league is hard, but to win the amount we have and show the character to keep winning is a plus point.

"It's going to get harder now, we're the scalp - everyone wants to beat us. None more so than Middlesbrough.

"It's going to be a really difficult game against a team bang in form. But I'd much rather be at the top than the bottom."

Andrew Surman and Ryan Fraser scored at Hillsborough to earn Bournemouth all three points.